J.J. Barea
Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea (5) celebrates a basket against the Houston Rockets during a playoff game last season. Reuters/Jerome Miron/USA Today Sports

Veteran point guard J.J. Barea is staying with the Dallas Mavericks, the team he helped win an NBA championship in 2011. The Puerto Rican spitfire guard signed a four-year deal worth $16 million with the Texas team.

ESPN reported the deal Thursday, adding that Barea got an increase from a previously negotiated deal because of free agent DeAndre Jordan’s sudden decision to spurn the Mavericks and return to the Los Angeles Clippers. "They knew I wanted to be there for a long time," the 31-year-old Barea said. "They wanted me there for a long time, so we made it happen."

Barea was part of the Mavericks championship team in 2011 and was a key part of the team’s offense during the NBA Finals victory against the Miami Heat.

Barea, who also plays for the Puerto Rican basketball national team in international competitions, averaged 7.5 points and 3.4 assists in 77 games for the Mavericks last season. In five playoff games this past season, Barea upped his averages to 11.8 points and 7.4 assists.

In the upcoming 2015-16 NBA season, Barea will battle for minutes at the point guard spot against the likes of Deron Williams, whom Dallas recently acquired after being waived by the Brooklyn Nets; Devin Harris and Raymond Felton.

RELATED STORIES